Conversation with Francesca Pinto
Global Director Gallery and Retail at Magnum Photos
Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Francesca Filippini Pinto and I'm Director of Gallery Retail at Magnum photos. I've been with Magnum for only three months and my previous career was at the photographer's gallery when I was director of business development. I had a stint at Christie’s, and I actually arrived to the arts later in life. I had an early career as an investment banker and halfway through I saw the light and decided to go for a master's in contemporary art. That was really the people the moment for me to start the career in the arts.
What advice would you give to women just starting out in the art world?
First of all, follow your heart. It's never too late to really align your passions to your your work life, and this is what I did. The second advice would be to be curious; go around, go to openings; make sure you're visible. By doing this you will meet interesting people and you will make connections that will serve you very well.
I would also say if you have a little bit of spare money, become a young patron or become a supporter of one of the many wonderful organisations we have in this country. It’s by being behind the scenes at the Tate or the Royal Academy, or the photographer's gallery, that you'll discover new artists and make really interesting connections that will be very helpful for you in your career.
What was the most interesting thing to come out of pandemic in the art space?
In my opinion, one of the most interesting things to come out of the pandemic was when we were all stuck at home, scrolling through Instagram, and the art support pledge came up. This was this fantastic idea of investing in a work of art for no more than 200 pounds, and then the artists reinvesting into art once they sold 1000 pounds worth of art. I think it was a fantastic method to get art seen involved and exchanged and it really took on a life of its own. I have to say I fill my walls with artists super pledge works that I bought over the course of the pandemic. And it was really interesting to see how different people were interested in similar things or curated what they purchased by putting them on their wall. So that was really one of the highlights for me in the months when we were all stuck at home.
What reoccurring art event do look forward to?
The art event I most look forward to in the calendar year is Les Rencontres d’Arles photography festival in the south of France. It's a wonderful showcase of everything happening in photography in a super relaxed setting in beautiful provincial village in the south of France. Rose a plenty, lots of events, everybody, from museum directors, to curators to photographers gather and meet very spontaneously in the Piazzas of D’Arles. As of last year. There is also a great foundation, the Luma Foundation, which has more of a contemporary art theme, which is also wonderful to go and see.
What art organisation do you think more people should know about?
A great organisation, at least in this country, is a small contemporary arts venue called PEER in Hoxton in East London. I've been a supporter of it for many years and I've discovered some amazing artists like Samson Kambalu and others. They were really quite unknown when they were first exhibited at PEER and have since skyrocketed in terms of popularity and visibility.
What are you excited about right now?
I just recently started a new position at Magnum Photos who are a wonderful agency that represent some of the most well-known photographers in the world; like Martin Parr and Jim Goldberg and Cristina de Middel. Not many people know that we also have a functioning gallery. We represent all of these photographers, not only for their editorial and commissions but also for fine print sales. I'm very excited that we just took a membership at Cromwell Place; I’m looking forward to showing to the world what Magnum does, by hosting exhibitions in this beautiful location.